the history-第47章
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nally quitted Egypt； the priests said； by a hasty flight under the following circumstances。 He saw in his sleep a vision：… a man stood by his side； and counselled him to gather together all the priests of Egypt and cut every one of them asunder。 On this； according to the account which he himself gave； it came into his mind that the gods intended hereby to lead him to commit an act of sacrilege； which would be sure to draw down upon him some punishment either at the hands of gods or men。 So he resolved not to do the deed suggested to him； but rather to retire from Egypt； as the time during which it was fated that he should hold the country had now （he thought） expired。 For before he left Ethiopia he had been told by the oracles which are venerated there； that he was to reign fifty years over Egypt。 The years were now fled； and the dream had come to trouble him； he therefore of his own accord withdrew from the land。 As soon as Sabacos was gone； the blind king left the marshes； and resumed the government。 He had lived in the marsh…region the whole time； having formed for himself an island there by a mixture of earth and ashes。 While he remained； the natives had orders to bring him food unbeknown to the Ethiopian； and latterly； at his request； each man had brought him； with the food； a certain quantity of ashes。 Before Amyrtaeus； no one was able to discover the site of this island； which continued unknown to the kings of Egypt who preceded him on the throne for the space of seven hundred years and more。 The name which it bears is Elbo。 It is about ten furlongs across in each direction。 The next king； I was told； was a priest of Vulcan； called Sethos。 This monarch despised and neglected the warrior class of the Egyptians； as though he did not need their services。 Among other indignities which he offered them； he took from them the lands which they had possessed under all the previous kings； consisting of twelve acres of choice land for each warrior。 Afterwards； therefore； when Sanacharib； king of the Arabians and Assyrians； marched his vast army into Egypt； the warriors one and all refused to come to his aid。 On this the monarch； greatly distressed； entered into the inner sanctuary； and； before the image of the god； bewailed the fate which impended over him。 As he wept he fell asleep； and dreamed that the god came and stood at his side； bidding him be of good cheer； and go boldly forth to meet the Arabian host； which would do him no hurt； as he himself would send those who should help him。 Sethos； then； relying on the dream； collected such of the Egyptians as were willing to follow him； who were none of them warriors； but traders； artisans； and market people； and with these marched to Pelusium； which commands the entrance into Egypt； and there pitched his camp。 As the two armies lay here opposite one another； there came in the night； a multitude of field…mice； which devoured all the quivers and bowstrings of the enemy； and ate the thongs by which they managed their shields。 Next morning they commenced their fight； and great multitudes fell； as they had no arms with which to defend themselves。 There stands to this day in the temple of Vulcan； a stone statue of Sethos； with a mouse in his hand； and an inscription to this effect… 〃Look on me； and learn to reverence the gods。〃 Thus far I have spoken on the authority of the Egyptians and their priests。 They declare that from their first king to this last…mentioned monarch； the priest of Vulcan； was a period of three hundred and forty…one generations； such； at least； they say； was the number both of their kings； and of their high…priests； during this interval。 Now three hundred generations of men make ten thousand years； three generations filling up the century； and the remaining forty…one generations make thirteen hundred and forty years。 Thus the whole number of years is eleven thousand； three hundred and forty； in which entire space； they said； no god had ever appeared in a human form； nothing of this kind had happened either under the former or under the later Egyptian kings。 The sun； however； had within this period of time； on four several occasions； moved from his wonted course； twice rising where he now sets； and twice setting where he now rises。 Egypt was in no degree affected by these changes； the productions of the land； and of the river； remained the same； nor was there anything unusual either in the diseases or the deaths。 When Hecataeus the historian was at Thebes； and； discoursing of his genealogy； traced his descent to a god in the person of his sixteenth ancestor； the priests of Jupiter did to him exactly as they afterwards did to me； though I made no boast of my family。 They led me into the inner sanctuary； which is a spacious chamber； and showed me a multitude of colossal statues； in wood； which they counted up； and found to amount to the exact number they had said； the custom being for every high priest during his lifetime to set up his statue in the temple。 As they showed me the figures and reckoned them up； they assured me that each was the son of the one preceding him； and this they repeated throughout the whole line； beginning with the representation of the priest last deceased； and continuing till they had completed the series。 When Hecataeus； in giving his genealogy； mentioned a god as his sixteenth ancestor； the priests opposed their genealogy to his； going through this list； and refusing to allow that any man was ever born of a god。 Their colossal figures were each； they said； a Piromis； born of a Piromis； and the number of them was three hundred and forty…five； through the whole series Piromis followed Piromis； and the line did not run up either to a god or a hero。 The word Piromis may be rendered 〃gentleman。〃 Of such a nature were； they said； the beings represented by these images… they were very far indeed from being gods。 However； in the times anterior to them it was otherwise； then Egypt had gods for its rulers； who dwelt upon the earth with men； one being always supreme above the rest。 The last of these was Horus； the son of Osiris； called by the Greeks Apollo。 He deposed Typhon； and ruled over Egypt as its last god…king。 Osiris is named Dionysus （Bacchus） by the Greeks。 The Greeks regard Hercules； Bacchus； and Pan as the youngest of the gods。 With the Egyptians； contrariwise； Pan is exceedingly ancient； and belongs to those whom they call 〃the eight gods；〃 who existed before the rest。 Hercules is one of the gods of the second order； who are known as 〃the twelve〃； and Bacchus belongs to the gods of the third order； whom the twelve produced。 I have already mentioned how many years intervened according to the Egyptians between the birth of Hercules and the reign of Amasis。 From Pan to this period they count a still longer time； and even from Bacchus； who is the youngest of the three； they reckon fifteen thousand years to the reign of that king。 In these matters they say they cannot be mistaken； as they have always kept count of the years； and noted them in their registers。 But from the present day to the time of Bacchus； the reputed son of Semele； daughter of Cadmus； is a period of not more than sixteen hundred years； to that of Hercules； son of Alcmena； is about nine hundred； while to the time of Pan； son of Penelope （Pan； according to the Greeks； was her child by Mercury）； is a shorter space than to the Trojan war； eight hundred years or thereabouts。 It is open to all to receive whichever he may prefer of these two traditions； my own opinion about them has been already declared。 If indeed these gods had been publicly known； and had grown old in Greece； as was the case with Hercules； son of Amphitryon； Bacchus； son of Semele； and Pan； son of Penelope； it might have been said that the last…mentioned personages were men who bore the names of certain previously existing deities。 But Bacchus； according to the Greek tradition； was no sooner born than he was sewn up in Jupiter's thigh； and carried off to Nysa； above Egypt； in Ethiopia； and as to Pan； they do not even profess to know what happened to him after his birth。 To me； therefore； it is quite manifest that the names of these gods became known to the Greeks after those of their other de
